US’ ‘handcuffs ready’ warning rocks visa program
In Short
Trump admin says H1B visa programme may see major changes
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US’ ‘handcuffs ready’ warning rocks visa program
Washington: The Department of Labour's Office of Inspector General advances a nationwide probe into alleged fraud, worker exploitation, and human trafficking linked to H1B visa program.
United States Labour Department Inspector General Anthony D’Esposito warned that the H1B visa program could look “very different" a year from now as the Trump administration steps up investigations into the alleged foreign-labour fraud.
In an interview with American commentator and YouTuber Benny Joshson, D’Esposito signalled a total shutdown of the H1B visa program and said the administration was preparing a case that could lead to tougher enforcement.
“We have handcuffs ready", he said. “We are building a case. I think that the efforts and the focus that you see from the White House and from this administration is telling a story. We are laying out the case very vividly to the American people", D’Esposito warned. “l think that the foreign labour visa program is going to look very different 365 days from now than it does today," he said. The H1B visa program allows US companies to hire foreign workers in specialty occupations, with the annual numerical cap limited to 65,000 new visas each fiscal year, alongside an additional 20,000 exemptions for individuals with a master’s degree or higher from a US institution of higher education.
In a previous statement, the Labour Department said investigators had issued dozens of subpoenas and executed search warrants as part of the investigation. The department also said visa applications involving tech giants Cognizant and Cloudera had been suspended pending the criminal investigation.
According to D’Esposito, the investigation would continue to target companies and practices that investigators believe have abused foreign-labour programs. In September 2025, the US Department of Labour announced the launch of Project Firewall, aimed at safeguarding the “rights, wages, and job opportunities of highly skilled American workers by ensuring employers prioritize qualified Americans when hiring workers and holding employers accountable if they abuse the H1B visa process", according to an official statement.
Recently, the Trump administration ordered the Departments of Labor, Homeland Security and State to consider whether an employer has carried out layoffs affecting similarly situated US workers when reviewing H1B applications.
